Normal running temperature

Listed below are temperature ranges from by SELOC members from their stack display within the car.

Model

Engine

Modifications from Standard

Motorway (70mph) type crusing range (deg C)

S3 S (220)

1.8 Toyota 2ZR

Standard

92-93

S2

1.8 Rover 'K'

Standard

96-97

S2

1.8 Rover 'K'

Eliseparts remote T-stat

82-84

S2

2.0 Honda K20

Eliseparts Hi-Pressure Alu rad

84-86

S2

1.8 Toyota 190

Standard

83-86

S2 111S

1.8 Rover 'K'

89-91

S2 111S

1.8 Rover 'K'

Eliseparts Hi-Pressure Alu rad

85-86

S2 111S

1.8 Rover 'K'

PRT with PEL500150

84-85

S1

1.8 Rover 'K'

Rover PRT 82° stat

80-81

S1

1.8 Rover 'K'

87-89

1999 S1

1.8 Rover 'K'

86

Fan

The service manual states the fans at the front should automatically switch on when the coolant temperature rises 101/102°C. The temperature should then fall and the fan switches off when the temperature drops below 98/96°C.

Temperature senders

The S1 has two Temperature senders: brown (sends to ECU), blue (sends to dash). The blue temperature sender is notoriously unreliable and often fails, resulting in temperature readings approx 10°C lower than reality. The blue sender is also a "single wire" type which is affected by electrical load. In most cases, a 1°C rise in temperature can be seen when turning on each item of electrical equipment, e.g. headlights, heater fan, windscreen wipers.

The S2 (Rover engine) has a single (black) temperature sender for both ECU and dash. There is a legacy blue housing, part #A111E6047S as in the S1, but it does nothing.

The S2 and S3 (Toyota engine) has a single black temperature sender, although different part numbers in the 1Z and 2Z engines.